by "Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
Published 06/28/2017 at 16:07
by "Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
Published 06/28/2017 at 16:07
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STARS: 7
In the last few years, several red states including Oklahoma and Arkansas have passed laws requiring that privately-funded memorials of the Ten Commandments be allowed to be displayed at or near government buildings. Michael Tate Reed II of Van Buren, AR is having none of that.
In 2012, after much debate, Oklahoma placed a statue of the Ten Commandments at its state capitol building. The state justified allowing the statue because it was privately funded, even though Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma Constitution says public property should not be used for anything to do with a particular religion.
In 2014, Michael Tate Reed II rammed his truck into that statue, destroying it. The statue was replaced, but then in 2015
the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that it must be removed
.
Reed spent some time in the hospital under involuntary psychiatric hold, and was released under an agreement with the district attorney where he would continue psychiatric treatment. He wrote a letter to Tulsa World explaining his psychosis that led him to drive into the Ten Commandments statue. You can read full details of the letter at the link, but Tulsa World paraphrased the letter thusly:
His psychotic breaks led to getting inspiration from a Dracula movie, thinking Michael Jackson’s spirit was in meat, believing he was the incarnation of an occult leader and attempting to contact Lucifer’s high priestess he called Gwyneth Paltrow.
At some point after that, Reed apparently moved to Arkansas, another state with a controversial state capitol Ten Commandments monument debate.
In 2015, Arkansas passed a law requiring that a statue of the Ten Commandments be built on the grounds of the state capitol building. It says the Ten Commandments “are an important component of the moral foundation of the laws and legal system of the...State of Arkansas,” and includes the full text of the Ten Commandments, but has this little bitty loophole:
The placement of the monument under this section shall not be construed to mean that the State of Arkansas favors any particular religion or denomination over others.
Many people felt that this loophole did little to mitigate the several pages talking about religion directly preceding it, but the bill passed anyway.
The Church of Satan joined the debate and argued that if Christians were allowed to have a statue of the Ten Commandments at the Arkansas state capitol building, then the Church of Satan should be allowed to have, according to The Washington Post ,
A competing statue of Baphomet, a goat-headed, angel-winged creature accompanied by two children smiling at it. Efforts to install that display, however, were blocked by a law enacted this year requiring legislative approval before the commission could consider a monument proposal. The Satanic Temple has vowed a lawsuit over the measure, and said it didn’t believe the law should be applied retroactively to its proposal.
Fast forward to the present, and a couple days ago, Monday, June 26, Reed posted on Facebook ,
I am a TERRORIST Who shall destroy many with the Fire of The Holy One of Isreal Yashua the Christ who alone is God YA Peace to Isreal forever for her King shall come and she shall be saved. And you oh fierce King of understand dark sentences shall be destroyed without hands yes you Donald Trump #CHECKMATE I’m not against service men and women I Thank them all for what they do. I’m against this whore nation that now lives in abominations before God.
Yesterday, June 27, the 6,000 pound granite Ten Commandments monument was finally installed at the Arkansas state capitol building. Also yesterday, the ACLU announced it was planning to file a federal lawsuit challenging the monument as an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion.
Last night, Michael Tate Reed II drove a Dodge Dart into the brand new Arkansas Ten Commandments monument, destroying it. Conveniently for law enforcement, he streamed the event on Facebook Live.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
This morning he was booked in the Pulaski County jail on preliminary charges of defacing objects of public interest, criminal trespass and first-degree criminal mischief.
Be warned, red state governments: if you put a religious statue at your state capitol building, Michael Tate Reed II is going to drive something into it.
"Berang" (berang)
06/28/2017 at 16:11, STARS: 3
Thou shalt not smash, is not amongst the commandments.
"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt)
06/28/2017 at 16:11, STARS: 7
Someone found a good use for a Dart! I’m impressed!
"Wacko" (wacko--)
06/28/2017 at 16:15, STARS: 1
looks like this is the only target the new Dodge Dart didn’t miss
"415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)" (415s30)
06/28/2017 at 16:19, STARS: 2
I love this man.
"duurtlang" (duurtlang)
06/28/2017 at 16:20, STARS: 16
I do find governmental establishment of religion a lot more troublesome than one deranged man. In an utterly different league.
"Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection" (itsalwayssteve)
06/28/2017 at 16:20, STARS: 4
The McCarthy-era Ten-Commandment monuments that were the subject of so many lawsuits were actually a publicity grab by Paramount for the Cecil B. DeMille film “The Ten Commandments.”
Yul Brynner and Charlton Heston actually dedicated some of them.
That’s Rameses right there...
"Seat Safety Switch" (seat-safety-switch)
06/28/2017 at 16:21, STARS: 0
Rare publicity for the Dart.
"Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever" (rustanddust)
06/28/2017 at 16:25, STARS: 7
Dodge PR needs to figure out a way to get this guy a Demon.
"boredalways" (boredalway666)
06/28/2017 at 16:25, STARS: 0
Hmmmm, I wonder if Mr. Reed is an Oppo member?
"deprecated account" (savethei4s)
06/28/2017 at 16:28, STARS: 0
>“privately-funded memorials”
>“unconstitutional government endorsement of religion”
???
Also, are we sure this isn’t Florida Man?
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
06/28/2017 at 16:29, STARS: 4
Agreed. Thankfully this guy is willing to spend time in jail to protect us from government-sponsored religious monuments.
"Milky" (jordanmielke)
06/28/2017 at 16:30, STARS: 0
“There was minor damage, but not what you’d think, from what I hear, from knocking over a big stone monument.”
#FCAquality
"Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell." (oppisitelock)
06/28/2017 at 16:31, STARS: 7
This guy is nuts but I support prevention of religion mixing with politics. I fully support people’s right to their beliefs but allowing these monuments is ridiculous.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
06/28/2017 at 16:31, STARS: 1
Yes, there are churchy parts of the country that devote large amounts of time and resources to government endorsement of religion, in spite of that pesky First Amendment.
"Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)" (bman76-4)
06/28/2017 at 16:32, STARS: 0
Best use of a Dart yet.
(I hope he gets the help he needs though)
"Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell." (oppisitelock)
06/28/2017 at 16:32, STARS: 1
Also the guy really reminds me of Ryan Fitzpatrick.
"deprecated account" (savethei4s)
06/28/2017 at 16:33, STARS: 0
But if the memorials are privately funded, then why does it matter? The government is just allowing them to be built on their ground.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
06/28/2017 at 16:33, STARS: 1
The US Constitution agrees with you .
"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
06/28/2017 at 16:34, STARS: 6
This guy is seriously my new personal hero.
I live in OK and I’m really bummed they didn’t allow the Satanist monument plus any others. It would have given us some much needed tourist dollars and probably could have helped fund repairs to the Capitol building. (It is crumbling and we have like... no money.) IIRC it was fully funded and was just waiting on the OK case to settle one way or the other.
Further digressions: Why the hell did Arkansas look at how well this went in Oklahoma (long court battle that eventually saw the monument removed) and thought “Yes, this will certainly go well for us.”?! All they’re doing is wasting taxpayer dollars and everyone’s time.
"RPM esq." (rpm3)
06/28/2017 at 16:34, STARS: 5
>“privately-funded memorials”
>of the Ten Commandments
>displayed prominently on government land
>in front of government buildings
>with government approval
>while the government does not allow
>other proposed monuments of a religious nature
>to be displayed on government land
equals
“unconstitutional government endorsement of religion,” yes.
"Milky" (jordanmielke)
06/28/2017 at 16:35, STARS: 1
The church folk hate that logic when it comes to abortions, but seemingly in this situation its okay.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
06/28/2017 at 16:37, STARS: 5
A state government allowing a religious monument on the grounds of the state capitol building creates the appearance of the state government endorsing that religion, even if that monument is not paid for by public funds. The private funding is an attempt to create a loophole that’s not really much of a loophole.
"EL_ULY" (uly)
06/28/2017 at 16:39, STARS: 0
AGREED!
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
06/28/2017 at 16:40, STARS: 0
The Satanist monument would’ve been in Arkansas, not Oklahoma. Well, unless they tried the same thing in Oklahoma a few years ago.
"Shamoononon drives like a farmer" (shamoononon)
06/28/2017 at 16:41, STARS: 0
So, it’s a great idea to build these statues - it brings out the nut bags so they can be arrested.
If only we all can destroy things we don’t agree with - mosques, planned parent hood, liquor stores, over taxation, unfriendly billboards, or whatever our little hearts desire.
"LongbowMkII" (longbowmkii)
06/28/2017 at 16:47, STARS: 1
I wonder if the muslims, buddhists and satanists of Arkansas have the disposable income to do such things.
Well the satanist a might since they’re pretty petty, but at least they don’t have the purported philosophy of helping the poor.
"Funktheduck" (funktheduck)
06/28/2017 at 17:05, STARS: 0
All they’re doing is wasting taxpayer dollars and everyone’s time.
That’s what most politicians do. It’s how they look like they’re doing something when really they’re not.
"TorqueToYield" (torquetoyield)
06/28/2017 at 17:30, STARS: 1
I mean, the Satanists actually do try and help the poor:
One should strive to act with compassion and empathy towards all creatures in accordance with reason.
The struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit that should prevail over laws and institutions.
They’re a pretty interesting sect. Have nothing at all to do with Satan other than that word pisses off certain religious people and they know it. Basically high level trolling.
https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/tenets
also from their FAQ:
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
It is the position of The Satanic Temple that religion can, and should, be divorced from superstition. As such, we do not promote a belief in a personal Satan. To embrace the name Satan is to embrace rational inquiry removed from supernaturalism and archaic tradition-based superstitions. The Satanist should actively work to hone critical thinking and exercise reasonable agnosticism in all things. Our beliefs must be malleable to the best current scientific understandings of the material world — never the reverse.
"TorqueToYield" (torquetoyield)
06/28/2017 at 17:35, STARS: 3
I assume there are lots of churches around - why not just put the monuments there? It’s like, these guys know separation of religion/state is a basic held principle in the US. They just feel the need to toe that line and push it as far as they can in order to show people that they’re good ol’ boys who only follow Jesus and the Bible (but only the new Bible and of course only the parts of it they like, not that ‘do unto others’ or ‘love thy neighbors’ socialism bit).
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
06/28/2017 at 17:40, STARS: 0
If you want to get really irritated I suggest reading the full text of the Arkansas law .
"TorqueToYield" (torquetoyield)
06/28/2017 at 17:50, STARS: 1
Yea that had me triggered.
I bet half the people in that building don’t understand/follow quite a few of those commandments.
“Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images.” They worship money.
“Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.” Pretty sure they don’t realize the true pronunciation of Judeo/Christian God (yahwah) was lost about 70 AD with the destruction of the Holy Temple
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_God#Judaism
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Hope their keeping their Fridays and Saturdays free.
“Thou shalt not kill.” Hasn’t Arkansas been in the news for putting lots of people to death recently?
“Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.” These just go without saying that the jerks in the Statehouse almost certainly violate them...
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
06/28/2017 at 18:25, STARS: 0
THIS IS OPPO YOUR POST IS POLITICS AND RELIGION AND NOT CARS EVEN THOUGH THE DUDE WRECKED THE STATUES WITH A CAR AND THIS DOESN’T BELONG HERE AND AT LEAST HE ISN’T RUNNING HIS CAR ONTO CROWDED PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES AND WHERE DID HE GET THE IDEA ANYWAY THAT IS ALL HAVE A NICE DAY AND REMIND ME NOT TO MOVE TO ARKANSAS OR OKLAHOMA OR FLORIDA OR NORTH CAROLINA AND THAT REALLY IS ALL AND THE FRONT TIRES ON MY VERSA ARE BALD
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
06/28/2017 at 18:26, STARS: 0
AND YOU MIGHT WANT TO PROOF YOUR HEADLINE STATUSES BUT THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT IT WAS INTERESTING
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
06/28/2017 at 18:29, STARS: 0
Haha I just realized the headline needed correcting, thanks.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
06/28/2017 at 18:56, STARS: 0
Once the Muslim ban is enacted this will surely not happen again.
"TylerLinner" (tylerlinner1)
06/28/2017 at 19:47, STARS: 0
"The Snowman" (the-snowman)
06/28/2017 at 20:16, STARS: 0
#hero
"PotbellyJoe and 42 others" (potbellyjoe)
06/28/2017 at 20:50, STARS: 1
Better yet, they put “Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images” on a monument and call it “a crime against the People of Arkansas” when it gets destroyed...
"gmporschenut also a fan of hondas" (gmporschenut)
06/28/2017 at 21:56, STARS: 0
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
06/28/2017 at 22:12, STARS: 0
You know, I subscribe to a very large, widely known, if not well understood, Christian religion, and my religiosity informs pretty much every aspect of my life. I personally believe the Ten Commandments are
not
the Ten Suggestions, nor the Ten Good Ideas, so I
subscribe
to them. All ten. No one can nor should impose them upon me unless they are reflected in the Law of the Land, which they are.
But I still
love
seeing those monuments knocked down by that crackpot guy. Made my day.
"IAN_Z" (theonline)
06/29/2017 at 00:31, STARS: 0
wow so much for the “tolerant lef
*a Toyota Camry smashes through my bedroom window, breaking all my ribs and smashing my body into several pieces*
"BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires" (biturbo228)
06/29/2017 at 05:55, STARS: 0
Haha this is absolutely brilliant.
"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
06/29/2017 at 09:49, STARS: 0
They did. It was a whole big thing.